Four in five votes at the next election will be influenced by youth unemployment policies, according to new survey by Keep Britain Working.

Policies on tackling youth unemployment will influence four in five votes at the next election, according to new findings published today by the Keep Britain Working campaign.

The results, from a poll of over 2,000 people across the UK, launches Keep Britain Working’s campaign to generate 1,000 Ideas for the Next Government on how to create and preserve jobs.

With nearly one million young people currently registered unemployed, leaders - from David Frost, Director-General of the British Chambers of Commerce to Martina Milburn, Chief Executive of the Princes Trust - support the launch with their ideas. The campaign is now calling on people across the UK to add their ideas (at KeepBritainWorking.com) on how to tackle youth unemployment. The best ideas will be presented to Britain’s three main political parties at the end of the month. Every month, for the next six months, Keep Britain Working will focus on a different employment issue.

The political parties have responded to the campaign, with comments from Yvette Cooper, Work and Pensions Secretary, Theresa May, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary and Nick Clegg, Leader, Liberal Democrats. These can be found below.*

James Reed, founder of the independent Keep Britain Working campaign, and Chairman of recruitment group Reed, comments:

“Almost 1 million young people are currently unemployed. This is a criminal waste of young talent. People clearly want action from the country's leaders and this will influence the vote of many at the next election. We are calling on people to share their ideas at KeepBritainWorking.com on how the next government should tackle youth unemployment.

“Every month, from now until May 2010, we will focus on a different employment issue and call for ideas from the public and leading business figures. These ideas will be presented to the UK’s three main political parties, allowing everyone to be part of creating 1,000 Ideas for the Next Government.”


*Party political comments on 1,000 Ideas for the next Government include:

Yvette Cooper, Work and Pensions Secretary:

"I think it's vital that we all work together to help people through the recession and so I welcome the Keep Britain Working campaign. During the recessions of the 80s and 90s, an entire generation of young people was abandoned and their talents wasted. Never Again. Labour is investing in a big increase in apprenticeships, education and training to guarantee every 16 and 17 year old a place. And we're also investing £1bn in the Future Jobs Fund to provide 100,000 youth jobs. With extra help in place we'll guarantee that no young person is left on the dole for as long as a year. It does cost money. But we are prepared to invest in young people's future because the lesson from the 80s and 90s is that it will cost the economy and society far more in the long run if we don't."

Theresa May, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary:

"Labour need to take up Conservative plans to Get Britain Working including hundreds of thousands of training and apprenticeship places for young people to prevent unemployment scarring their life chances."

Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats:

"We must provide a lifeboat to this lost generation. The Liberal Democrats have set out how we could fund extra university and college places, introduce a paid internship scheme and create more apprenticeships which would offer vital support for young people as they enter the workforce. Projects that generate innovative ideas on how to create jobs for young people and expand their opportunities deserve our whole hearted support."